I've played Strat since 1973, and even then thirsted for a DC baseball sports pennant and championship. Then, it happened.
My twitter account <@69Nats_Fan> recapped the Nats Strat win in the NL Wild Card, scoring 2 runs off of Josh Hader in the bottom of the 8th to win, 3-2 as well their 5-game win over the LA Dodgers, led by Stephen Strasburg's 13 K gem in the clinching game.
So, now it's on to the NLCS and Game 1 in St. Louis - here's a recap:
Game 1: Washington Nationals @ St. Louis Cardinals - Sanchez vs. Mikolas
The Nationals jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first on HR's by Trea Turner and Juan Soto. They add 4 more in the 3rd on a Rendon RBI triple, a Kendrick RBI single and two runs on a 2-base error by Tommy Edman, Cards' rightfielder.
Sanchez, through 4, is cruising with a 6-0 lead and a 2-hitter. Then, in shades of the 2012 Game 5, Sanchez suddenly becomes Gio Gonzalez, surrendering 2-runs in the 5th on a homer by Dexter Fowler, then 3 more in the 6th on an Edman single and a 2-bi pinch hit single by Jose Martinez off reliever Tanner Rainey. Rainey recovered to strikeout Fowler and Kolten Wong to end the St. Louis threat.
In the meantime, the Cards' bullpen continued to keep the Nats at bay, making the score 6-5 Nats after 6. Rainey pitched a 1-2-3 7th as the Nats' bats remained quiet. In the 8th, also like 2012 NLDS Game 5, the Nats added an insurance run on St. Louis' closer Carlos Martinez.
Patrick Corbin pitched a shutout 8th and Sean Doolittle entered to close the 9th (recall Daniel Hudson was unavailable - quite rightly - on paternity leave). Doolittle closed out the game without drama, a 1-2-3 9th, ending on a Wong line drive to Soto.
Game 1 goes to the Nationals, 7-5. Winning pitcher - Sanchez, Save Doolittle, Losing Pitcher - Mikolas.
Nats line was 7-10-1. Cards 5-8-1. Hitting stars for Nats, Rendon, 3-4, R, BI and Soto, 2-3, 2R, 2 BI, HR.
Photo: Anibal Sanchez wins Game 1, NLDS.
Photo from Federal Baseball blog.
Game 2: Washington Nationals @ St. Louis Cardinals. Max Scherzer vs. Adam Wainwright
Recap: Scherzer roars out of the gate with 7 strikeouts in the first 3 innings. The Nationals lead 1-0 after 3 as Max adds a 2-out RBI singe in the 2nd. Nats lead, 1-0.
The Cardinals' bottom of the order strikes back in the fourth as the Redbirds take a 2-1 lead on Paul DeJong Sac Fly and Wainwright's RBI double. The score remains 2-1 after 5 innings as both Scherzer and Wainwright are cruising. A good pitcher's duel by two great veterans.
Washington takes a 2-run lead on another clutch 2-out hit, this one a 3-run homer by catcher Kurt Suzuki. Suzuki's blast chases Wainwright from the game. The Nats add another run in the 7th. Trea Turner singles and steals second and Adam Eaton doubles him home.
Nats appear in command, 5-2 heading into bottom of the 7th. Scherzer, though, exited the game after 6 innings. He fanned 11, but also gave up 8 hits and a walk - 6 of the 8 hits were doubles, strangely. Max had zero 1-2-3 innings so he had "emptied the tank."
Unfortunately for the Nats, Sean Doolittle was not sharp. The Cards roar back to tie 5-5 in the 7th on a 2-run HR by Paul Goldscmidt and a solo shot by Jadier Molina.
The game stays deadlocked through 9. In the 10th, the Nats get to Cards closer Carlos Martinez again. Kendrick walks, Ozuma drops a fly ball in left by PH Asdrubal Cabrera putting runners on 2nd and 3rd with 0 out. PH Matt Adams is intentionally walked loading the bases.
Michael A. Taylor continues his all-star post-season performances, ripping a 2-run single to center to give the Nats a 7-5 lead. Ryan Helsley and Adnrew Miller fill in for Martinez and stop the DC rally. Nats lead, 7-5.
But, the lead isn't safe. Daniel Hudson had to pitch the 8th and 9th, so he was done. The Nationals, then, were forced to turn to the weaker parts of their bullpen. Dave Martinez tapped veteran Fernando Rodney to try to close out the game. The Nats and their fans held their breaths.
Then, Rodney stunned everyone. He struck out Matt Carpenter, Molina and Tommy Edman - 1-2-3, K-K-K to finish off the game and give the Nationals a commanding 2-0 lead heading back to Washington.
Winning pitcher - Hudson, Save Rodney. Losing Pitcher - Martinez.
Line score: Nats 7-9-0, Cardinals 5-11-1.
Hitting stars for Washington - Suzuki, 3-4, HR, 3BI, Taylor 1-2, 2 RBI. For St. Louis, Goldschmidt and Molina were 2-5 with each hitting HRs.
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Michael A. Taylor. Photo Credit: Federal Baseball blog
Game 3: St. Louis Cardinals @ Washington Nationals. Jack Flaherty vs. Stephen Strasburg
The Nats return to DC with a 2-0 lead and Strasburg on the mound in his first appearance since his NLDS Game 5 gem. Strasburg escapes a first inning jam and strikes out the side in the 2nd and 3rd innings, giving him 7 through 3 IP.
The Nationals have no issues solving Flaherty, a fine pitcher. A solo HR by Howie Kendrick in the 2nd and a 3-run blast by Anthony Rendon with 2 outs in the 3rd, give the Nats a comfortable 4-0 lead.
As they'd done all series, the Cardinals clawed back with an Ozuna homer in the 4th and a Kolten Wong 2-out RBI single. After 5, Nationals lead, 4-2.
The Nats break the game open in the 6th on a 2-out, 3-run homerun by pinch hitter Asdrubal Cabrera. The 7-2 lead proves insurmountable as Strasburg K's 12 in 6 innings and Wander Suero (3 K's), Tanner Rainey (2 K's) and Fernando Rodney (2 K's) add 7 more, for a stunning total of 19 strike outs!
The Nationals thrill their fans with a 7-2 win. They lead the series, 3-0 and are 1 game away from a berth in the 2019 World Series.
WP - Strasburg; LP - Flaherty. Line scores Nationals 7-8-2; Cardinals 2-5-1.
Hitting stars were Rendon and Cabrera, but it was a team effort as 6 Nats scored and 7 got hits, 2 each for Turner and Taylor. Osuna and DeJong had 2 hits a piece for the Cards.
Stephen Strasburg pitches in Game 3 of the NLCS.
Photo credit: usatoday.com
